State Department vs. Pirates

Secretary Clinton announced a four part anti-piracy plan yesterday. To summarize, it includes:

1. Sending an envoy to the international Somali peacekeeping and development meeting in Brussels. Said Clinton, "Our envoy will work with other partners to help the Somalis assist us in cracking down on pirate bases and in decreasing incentives for young Somali men to engage in piracy."

2. A meeting with the International Contact Group on Piracy to develop an expanded multinational response including possibly tracking and freezing pirate assets.

3. A diplomatic team will engage with Somali Government officials from the Transitional Federal Government as well as regional leaders in Puntland to eject pirates from their bases.

4.Outreach to the shipping and insurance industry to improve their capacity for self-defense.

Laura Rozen has the memo. Here's a video of Clinton announcing the moves: